2. THE BLESSEDNESS
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8.
"At your right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:11.
"In those blest regions of delight,
Where Jesus is unveiled to sight,
No mortal tongue can e'er express
The ransomed sinner's blessedness."
The blessedness of heaven is a powerful attraction to draw souls to it. And
it is presented in all its charms in the world of God- presented to you- to
me. Then let us seek it. If we are true believers in Jesus, we soon enjoy
all that unspeakable blessedness which the Bible now presents to the
Christian's view. The blessedness of the redeemed in glory will consist in
the exemption from all evil, and in the enjoyment of all good. There will be
nothing to hurt or destroy, in all God's holy mountain.
All will be blessed there in the possession of the greatest good. Every
enjoyment in heaven will conspire to increase and perpetuate the blessedness
of the saints in light. Those happy souls whose robes have been washed white
in the blood of Immanuel, and who are presented faultless before the throne
of God, "shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the
sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters,
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
The redeemed in glory shall be placed far above the reach of a sinful world,
and shall dwell securely in heavenly bliss. There, they shall flourish in
our God's holy place. There, they shall be crowned with blessedness, and
glory and immortality. How attractive does the blessedness of heaven appear,
as presented in the Holy Scriptures! No heart can conceive it- no tongue can
express it. It is a boundless ocean of eternal delights! Here on earth, the
Christian tastes but drops from the ocean above; but soon he shall stand on
the "crystal sea of glass" before the throne, and drink endless pleasures
in.
Blessed Jesus! Prepare us all for serving you in mansions above- for
participating in those joys which are in your presence- in those pleasures
which are at your right hand forever. "In your presence is fullness of joy;
at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
In attempting to speak of the blessedness of heaven, we may, in the first
place, conceive of it NEGATIVELY. "Not only what is in heaven should attract
us to it, but what is not there." (Nevins) And do you ask what is not there-
We answer, there is no sin- no sorrow- no tears- no pain- no disease- no
death, in heaven.
1. No SIN there. Sin reigns in this world; but in heaven its very existence
will be eradicated. There the children of God shall never complain of a body
of sin and death. Those immortal forms that surround the throne of God are
all sinless beings. Sin will never shed its baneful influence in the
Paradise above. Satan can find no admittance there. None of his fiery darts
will be cast in glory.
2. No SORROW there. In heaven there will be no more "sorrow." It is here in
this present world, within us, all around us. Who has not felt the withering
touch of sorrow- This is a world of sorrow. Here, one wave of trouble after
another sweeps over us until we close our eyes in death. "In the world,"
says the Savior, "you shall have tribulation." It is expressly declared,
that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." How
often have we tasted this bitter fruit of sin! How often have our hopes been
blasted; our expectations disappointed! How often have we been called to
mourn the loss of near and dear relatives! Here our hearts are almost
constantly filled with some kind of sorrow.
But, dear fellow-pilgrim, cheer up! There lies a bright prospect before us.
Has not your eye caught a glimpse of yonder golden plains beyond the grave,
where no sorrow ever comes, and where you hope to dwell with Jesus, in
endless glory! Then go on your way rejoicing in tribulation. Heaven will
make amends for all your momentary sorrow here. You will soon forget all
sublunary grief in that land of blessedness, where sorrow is no more.
3. No TEARS there. "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." No
expression of grief is there- no "crying"; no mourning. There, "sorrow and
mourning shall flee away." Happy world, where all the redeemed are, with
cheerful countenances, rejoicing in God their Savior! There no tears bedew
the cheek. What a striking contrast is there between heaven and earth in
this respect. This world, with all its fancied happiness, is nothing in
reality but a valley of tears; and you have not to live many years before
you experience the sad truth of this.
Here sin has entered, and sorrow has entered, and tears flow; but in the
celestial Jerusalem "the voice of weeping shall be no more heard, neither
the voice of crying." There, dear Christian, "you shall weep no more; the
days of your mourning shall be ended." Here on earth, the people of God are
called to shed many tears. "You feed them with the bread of tears, and give
them tears to drink in great measure." How consoling, in such a valley of
tears as this, to think of heaven! How attractive does that joyful land
appear to the mourning Christian! He knows that God will there gently wipe
away all his tears. The tears of the righteous will soon cease to flow. In a
little while "the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces." O, what
a happy thought, to think that it is God himself who will wipe away every
tear of sorrow in glory! Surely the Christian ought to rejoice now.
4. In heaven there will be no PAIN nor DISEASE. "Neither shall there be any
more pain; for the former things are passed away." Of that celestial world,
"the inhabitants shall never say, I am sick." Pain and disease ravage this
fallen world. "The whole creation groans and travails in pain together."
Here even the righteous "is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the
multitude of his bones with strong pain;" but there God will remove from him
all pain and sickness forever. Here the children of God are often laid on
beds of affliction, and "wearisome nights are appointed unto them;" there
blooming health shall cheer their souls, and they shall experience pain and
disease no more. What a great blessing to be eternally free from all pain
and sickness! To the sons and daughters of affliction how attractive should
that world appear, where a kind Heavenly Physician not only wipes away every
tear, but heals all diseases and frees from all pain! "Bless the Lord, O my
soul, and do not forget all his benefits: who forgives all your iniquities;
who heals all your diseases!"
5. Heaven is A LAND OF IMMORTALITY. Jesus Christ has abolished death, and
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. In those happy
regions beyond Jordan's stream, there is no death. "And there shall be no
more death." Immortal life will be enjoyed by all the blessed inhabitants of
Immanuel's land. How animating in a dying world like this, to think of a
glorious immortality! How unlike this land of death, is heaven! There all is
blooming immortality.
Here, in the midst of life we are in death; we are surrounded with the dying
and the dead; thousands fall within our view. The young, the beautiful and
the vigorous, are not exempted from the painful stroke of the 'king of
terrors'. There, death it self is swallowed up in victory.
Here on earth, the dearest ties that bind us to earth are cut asunder. Death
does not even spare our nearest and dearest relatives. His icy hand is often
stretched over the face of a beloved wife- an affectionate husband- a
smiling babe- a tender son or daughter- a loving sister or brother- a dear
parent. But in heaven, death shall strike its darts no more. How reviving to
the Christian who is mourning the loss of pious relatives, to think that in
those joyful regions of bliss, he shall meet his dear departed friends who
now sleep in Jesus. Then shall we ever be with the Lord in his temple of
glory, where parting is no more, and where there is no more painful
separation of kindred souls in death.
Let the mourning Christian take comfort from this blessed hope. The 'last
enemy' (death) will soon be destroyed. God is just ready to say of his
people, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them
from death;" and of death, "O death, I will be your plague! O grave, I will
be your destruction!" "This corruptible must" soon "put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying
that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory." As we enter the portals
of glory and place our feet on the blessed shores of immortality, we may
triumphantly exclaim, "O death, where is your sting! O grave, where is your
victory!" "And there shall be no more death."
We come now to notice the POSITIVE BLESSEDNESS of heaven. And what is there
that is so attractive? In heaven, there is not only the absence of all evil,
but the actual enjoyment of the highest good- of unspeakable blessedness!
There is the tree of life, in the midst of the Paradise- the hidden manna-
fullness of joy- rivers of pleasures- crowns of glory that fade not away-
eternal life- society the most pure; perfect and lovely- sweet communion
with God- the glorious presence of the blessed Savior. And this is enough-
enough to satisfy the most capacious desire.
What heart can conceive, or what tongue can describe, the blessedness
contained in this single verse of Scripture: "Therefore are they before the
throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits
on the throne shall dwell among them." This blessedness awaits all the
children of God. Happy thought! In heaven the saints will be perfectly
blessed, in the full enjoyment of God through all eternity! The eternal God
will be the inexhaustible source of all their blessedness. From the fountain
of Infinite Love they will derive the purest bliss. In the ocean of divine
blessedness and glory, they shall bathe forever and ever.
The blessedness of the saints will be derived directly from God, the
fountain of all goodness. He will supply the needs of all his people. He
will crown their heads with immortal bliss. What blessedness must fill the
ransomed soul when it is brought to dwell in the presence of Him, "who alone
has immortality, dwelling in that light which no man can approach unto; whom
no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen."
O, to bask in the full beams of His light, whose glory kindles up the realms
above in inconceivable splendor! What must those blessings be which a God of
love will confer upon his blood-bought flock! How innumerable, how
invaluable, how soul-ravishing will they be! In heaven, the blessedness of
the saints will flow in an eternal stream from God, their Savior. There,
every soul will be filled with all the fullness of God. O, what rivers of
blessedness will flow from the Eternal Fountain!
The redeemed will enjoy all that unspeakable blessedness, arising from a
display of the divine glory– from sweet, unrestrained communion with God–
from the manifestation of a Savior's love– from the enjoyment of that love
through eternity. What more does an immortal soul desire? What more can it
enjoy?
This single attraction, the enjoyment of God in Christ through a blessed
eternity, should draw every soul to glory. Such a blessedness, eternity
alone can unfold. This blessing will enrich your soul to all eternity.
If you have found the "pearl of great price," all the bliss of heaven will
be yours! the pleasures at God's right hand! fullness of joy in his
presence! a right to the tree of life! In a word, the inheritance of all
things! "He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God,
and he shall be my son." "All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or
Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to
come; all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's."
Blessed with the presence of Christ, the saints shall enjoy that GLORIOUS
REST which remains for them. Wearing the crowns of glory which a Savior's
love placed upon their brow, they shall participate in the ecstatic joys of
heaven. They shall eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the
Paradise of God. Yes,
"The tree of life shall bless their sight,
With golden fruit their taste delight
Beneath its green and spreading boughs,
The harp shall lull them to repose;
And in seraphic pleasures deep,
Their powerful senses ever steep."
They shall eat of the hidden manna, and receive a white stone; and on the
stone a new name written, which no man knows, except him who receives it.
They shall be clothed with white clothing, and their names shall not be
blotted out of the book of life. They will encompass the throne of God with
everlasting songs of praise; they shall even sit with Christ on his throne.
"To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I
also overcame, and have sat down with my Father on his throne."
The Lamb in the midst of the throne, is the immediate source of heaven's
blessedness! Christ will ever remain the glorious Head of his living
members- his mystical body, the church. He will supply their every need. He
will provide for them rich blessings- the blessings of eternal salvation.
"They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high
places. They shall not hunger or thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun
smite them; for he that has mercy on them shall lead them, even by the
springs of water shall he guide them."
The Lamb not only feeds them with heaven's richest fruits, but also guides
them to fountains of bliss- springs of living water. "The Lamb who is in the
midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters." Blessed lot of the righteous! Happy is that people,
that is in such a case; yes, happy is that people whose God is the Lord! In
contemplating such blessedness, well may we exclaim with the inspired
Penman, "Happy are you, O Israel: who is like unto you, O people, saved by
the Lord."
Heaven is a place of ETERNAL BLESSEDNESS. No change from happiness to misery
is experienced there. None of the vicissitudes of earth shall be there. One
perpetual scene of bliss crowns all. One wide, unbounded field of expanding
blessedness spreads away, far away before every soul clad in glory.
In heaven, there will be AN ETERNAL PROGRESSION IN KNOWLEDGE AND HAPPINESS.
Every new discovery of the ways and works of the Almighty, will roll new
tides of glory and blessedness around the ransomed soul. O, what powerful
attractions are these! Should they not draw you to glory? What are all the
pleasures of a dying world compared with one hour's enjoyment of heavenly
blessedness? How worthless! May you possess more permanent joys than those
of earth. May it be your happiness to reign with Christ forever and ever.
May God grant that every reader of this little volume may be brought to
enjoy that blessedness which is reserved for the righteous, in another and a
better world; and to his glorious name be everlasting praise! Amen.